Device for detachably connecting beams



NOV. 17, l925 J. VlDON DEVICE FOR DETACHABLY .CONNECTING BEAMS Filed Oct. 13, 1924 Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHANN VIDON, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE non DETACHABLY CONNECTING BEAMs.

Application filed October 13, 1924. Serial No. 743,320.

T 0 all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHANN VIDON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Evanston, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Device for Detachably Connecting Beams, of which the following is a specification.

the beams, frequently causing them to chip l and to split. The object of my invention is to provide a device which will firmly and positively hold the beams together and will at the same time permit speedy and convenient detaching or disassembling of said beamsand without any injury resulting to the same.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing my invention used in connecting an upright supporting beam and a cross beam supported thereon;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing my device used in holding an upper upright beam on the lower upright supporting beam;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 4.-4 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the device.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawing comprises a frame 10, preferably constructed of metal and substantially in the form shown. A chain or flexible member 11 is fastened at one end to one side of said frame, as by engaging the end link 12 in an eye 13, while the other or free end of said member 11 is selectively and adjustably engaged or hooked in a notch 14 provided in said frame, as shown. This chain or member 11 and the frame form clamping means for embracing the main supporting beam 15, as shown in Fig. 1, and for supporting and pressing the supported beam or cross beam 16 Vthereagainst; or also for embracing both "the upright supporting beam 15 and the upper upright or supported beam 17, and for directly clamping said two upright beams together, as shown in Fig. 3. A notch 14YV holds chain 11 in the notch 14.

The frame is provided with projecting means or toothed means 18 for engaging or biting into a beam and preventing the frame from moving downwardly thereon. VThis means'preferably consists of a sharpened inwardly projecting edge at the lower part ofthe frame. 'f

Means is provided on the frame for engaging one of said beams with increasing firmness and'also for pressing said beams together i' with increasing firmness, as said beams move or slide upon each other'or as the frame moves downwardly on its attached beam. 'Y This means preferably comprises cam means like an eccentric 20, which is mounted on a bolt or cross shaft 21 fastened in said frame, and is provided with teeth or indenting means 22 for biting into the associated beam and for automatically effecting the operative movement or rotation of said cam means when the supported beam and the frame endeavor to move or slide on the upright or main supporting beam.

A supporting ledge or shoulder 23 is formed at the upper end of the frame, and a bracket arm 24 is provided adjacent thereto and supplied with an adjustable threaded member or set screw 25 .for engaging and biting into the supported beam and to prevent said beam from release movement on sol the frame and the main supporting beam.

A rib 26 may also be provided on shoulder 23 to aid in holding beam 16. From the above disclosure it is apparent that my device is readily attachable and de-v tachable, and provides means forfirmly and positively holding beams together, and will also permit ready detaching and separation of said beams, and is particularly adapted for building scaifolds and similar temporary supporting structures where the disassembling of said beams without weakening the same is particularly desirable.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as'come withinv the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what l claim as new7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. AA beam connecting device comprising a frame with flexible means for clamping beams together, and a tooth iiXed and integral with said frame and an eccentric movably mounted in said frame for engaging into one of said beams and preventing downward movement of said frame thereon.

2l A beam connecting device comprising a vertical, box-like frame mountable on an upright beam and having integral side and bottom elements, an integral horizontal top with a retaining arm on said frame forv supporting a cross beam on said upright beam, flexibleA and eccentric means on said frame andI means on said arm foi-clamping the cross beam to the upright beam, and tooth means formed integral with said frame forA engaging into said upright beam to prevent downward movement ofsaid frame thereon.

3. A device for clamping longitudinally aligned beams together and for supporting a cross beam on a main supporting beam,

said device comprising a frame with toothed means adjacent one end thereof for biting into one of said beams, a shoulder on said frame for supporting a beam on said main supporting beam, an arm with threaded means adjacent the upper end of said frame for biting into the supported beam to prevent release movement thereof and movement laterally on said frame, and an eccentric and flexible means attached to. said' frame at points intermediate said toothed means and said threaded means for holding and drawing both` of them firmly into the beams.

4C. A beam connecting device comprising a frame adapted for clamping beams together, a chain secured with one end on said frame and having theother end adjustably connected with said frame" to sui-t beams of' various thicknesses, a tooth on said frame to bite into the engaged beam, an eccentric in said frame for engaging the connected beam with increasingA rmness on relative movement of the beams, and" a shoulder formed on the top of said frame fonsupporting a cross beam, said device being arranged for clam-ping longitudinally aligned beams together and for supporting a cross beam on an upright beam.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.'

JOHANN VIDONi 

